The Knitting and Stitching Show Trip October 2019

On the 10 October the Textiles students, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Hathaway and Mrs Sawenko visited Alexandra Palace to attend the Knitting and Stitching Show. The show was vast, including halls dedicated to inspiring displays by Contemporary Textile Artists and new college graduates work, as well as, specialist stalls selling materials, resources and demonstrating their wares. Workshops demonstrated new techniques in a special area called ‘The Learning Curve’ and in the ‘Creative Living Theatre’ lectures by Textile Artists gave inspirational advice. Crafts from knitting to felting were demonstrated in the ‘Craft Village’.

The Year 10’s enjoyed workshops entitled ‘Wet felted fantasy flower’, ‘Wire flowers with knitted bead centre’ and ‘Embellished floral hoop embroidery’. The Year 11’s had an ‘Indian block printing’ workshop. The Year 12’s attended a talk by the famous Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. All workshops were run by Textile Artists and were action packed culminating in a sample to take home at the end of the day and to display in their sketchbooks.

This was a very valuable experience for the Textiles students; in particular, the show helped them to gather research for their projects gained from viewing work from the astounding Textile Artists Gallery, but also the girls got a lot out of attending the practical workshops, where they learnt new skills taught to them first hand by an established Textile Artist.

Overall, the day was great fun, rewarding and enjoyable. It was incredibly uplifting to see all the girls find inspiration in all the different textiles on display from artists, graduates and companies alike and see them immersed in learning new skills and making new creations.

‘I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to go to the Knitting and Stitching Show as I saw various types of materials used and different inspiring styles of work. The workshop I was assigned to was very interesting as the process was something I was unfamiliar with.’ Adhira Ashok, Year 10

Mrs F Johnson: Head of Textiles